John Smith (explorer)

John Smith (c. January 1580 – 21 June 1631), Admiral of New England, was an English soldier, explorer, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania, and his friend Mózes Székely. He was considered to have played an important part in the establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was a leader of the Virginia Colony (based at Jamestown) between September 1608 and August 1609, and led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. He was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area and New England.

His books and maps were important in encouraging and supporting English colonization of the New World. He gave the name New England to the region and noted: "Here every man may be master and owner of his owne labour and land... If he have nothing but his hands, he may...by industries quickly grow rich."

When Jamestown was England's first permanent settlement in the New World, Smith trained the settlers to farm and work, thus saving the colony from early devastation. He publicly stated "He that will not work, shall not eat". This strength of character and determination overcame problems presented from the hostile Indians, the wilderness and the troublesome and uncooperative settlers. Harsh weather, lack of water, living in a swampy wilderness and attacks from the Powhatan Indians almost destroyed the colony. The Jamestown settlement survived and so did Smith, but he had to return to England after being injured by an accidental explosion of gunpowder in a boat.

John Smith (High Sheriff of Kent)

Sir John Smith or Smythe (1557 - 29 October 1608), of Westenhanger, Kent, was an English politician.

He was the eldest surviving son of Thomas Smythe, a London haberdasher who was a collector of customs duties ("customer") and who had bought Westenhanger Castle. His brother was Thomas Smythe, the first governor of the East India Company. John entered Gray's Inn to study law in 1577. He succeeded his father in 1591, inheriting Westenhanger Castle, and was knighted on 11 May 1603.

He was a Justice of the Peace for Kent from 1587 to his death and was appointed High Sheriff of Kent for 1600–01. He was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) for Aylesbury in 1584 and Hythe in 1586, 1587 and 1604. He was the Deputy Governor of the Mines Royal from 1605 to death.

He died in 1608 and was buried at Ashford. He had married Elizabeth, the daughter and heiress of John Fyneux of Herne, Kent, and had 2 sons (one of whom predeceased him) and 6 daughters. His surviving son Thomas was created an Irish peer in 1635, becoming Viscount Strangford.

The Doctor (Doctor Who)

The Doctor is the title character and protagonist in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. The character has also been featured in one made-for-television film, and a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series. In the series, "the Doctor" is the alias assumed by a centuries-old alien who travels through space and time in his TARDIS, frequently with companions.

Since the show's inception in 1963, the character has been portrayed by twelve lead actors. The transition from each succeeding actor is explained within the narrative of the show through the plot device of "regeneration", a biological function of his race that allows their change of cellular structure and appearance with recovery following a potentially fatal injury. A number of other actors have played the character in stage and audio plays, as well as in various film and television productions. The character's enduring popularity led The Daily Telegraph to dub him "Britain's favourite alien". The incumbent Doctor is the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, who succeeded Matt Smith in the role in the 2013 Christmas special "The Time of the Doctor".

John Smith (missionary)

John Smith (1790–1824) was a missionary whose experiences in the West Indies attracted the attention of the anti-slavery campaigner, William Wilberforce. As a result of his actions, trial by court martial and subsequent death whilst under imprisonment, Smith became known as the "Demerara Martyr". His case, and news of the enormous size of the uprising and the brutal loss of African life, caused a great awakening in England, strengthening the abolitionist cause which eventually succeeded in British territories worldwide in 1838.

Biography

Smith was born an orphan on 27 June 1790 in Northamptonshire. He received his early education only at Sunday school, and trained to be a baker, after which he applied to be a missionary. He married Jane Godden. On 12 December 1816 he was ordained at Tonbridge Chapel.

Smith arrived in Demerara under the auspices of the London Missionary Society on 23 February 1817. He lived at the 'Le Resouvenir' plantation, where he preached at Bethel Chapel, primarily attended by African slaves.